Cactus Flower

[NV Whino]

When I moved my mother north a few years before her death, i also moved her plants. She was tired of taking care of them and made no objection when i gave them to a friend who was into cacti.

This is the plant. I missed the full flowering in the afternoon. Many had closed by the evening.


This is the flower


To say this cactus is a happy camper is an understatement. it was never this prolific or beautiful under my mother's care.

And here is a gratuitous lily. Damn, I love that macro on my new point and shoot.

[Solly Mack]

1. Wonderful shots.

That is a sweet little macro.

[NV Whino]

2. There is a funny story about one of the cacti

I sent the cacti up with the moving van. Among them was a big barrel cactus, the only one with spikes. i thought I was being very clever by wrapping it in bubble wrap. Well, it was a good idea… until one of the guys went to move it off the truck. I saw him heading for it and yelled, "Be…," but before I could get the "careful" out, he had hugged it to his chest. Oops. Being a tough guy, he didn't complain, or shout, or cry, but i don't believe I've ever seen anyone's eyes go as wide as his did.

[Solly Mack]

5. Oh! Dang.

I had a cactus attack my shin once. The pain is just so different from other sticks. I didn't scream or cry out either - the shock of it stops you. I call still remember the feeling.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Damn, I love that macro too.

If this were O'Keefe's time, I would say that is quite pornographic. And beautiful.

[northoftheborder]

4. We call that Christmas Cactus.

I wasn't able to keep my mother's blooming. It bloomed every year for her. It was beautiful. Hers had much shorter leaves, maybe a different variety.

[NV Whino]

6. This one must be on Australian time or something

I'm not sure if this is the one we transported from Colorado to California in 1954 or not. It may well be. I remember that my mother concealed a cutting of a Christmas cactus to make it across state lines. We also transported the pet parakeet, which I think was illegal at the time.

[alfredo]

7. I love that cactus. I'm a cactus fan too.

My Prickly Pears should be blooming soon.

My wife has a night-blooming cereus. It's an incredible flower, especially when backlit.